title: Usefulness of monitoring ribavirin plasma concentrations to improve treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: Ribavirin in combination with pegylated interferon alpha is the current standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Adequate exposure to ribavirin seems crucial for achieving the best virological response. However, anaemia is a frequent, dose-dependent limiting side effect of ribavirin use. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring of ribavirin plasma concentrations could be a useful tool for individualizing ribavirin dosing. Herein, we review the relationship between ribavirin plasma concentrations and both virological response and toxicity, in order to define an optimal therapeutic range for ribavirin.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Unit, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morello
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Novoa
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Nácher
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
mesh_terms: D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012254:Ribavirin